#THREAD
1.MARKANDEY MAHADEV TEMPLE is one of the famous temples of Lord Shiva,is situated in Kaithi village,30 kms. from Varanasi city of #UttarPradesh
This Dham=12 Jyotirlingas,has also been discussed in Shri Markandeya Purana also known as Mahamrityunjaya temple @LostTemple7

2.Markandeya Mahadeva temple-It's the place where Life defeated Death.
Here is there STORY;-
there was a couple named Mrikandu and his wife Marudavati. They were devotees of Lord Shiva and they had no children.

3.They decided to do a ‘Tapasya’ & 1 day Lord Shiva became happy on that couple & came out before them. Lord Shiva asked them, do u want to have common son having a long life or an extraordinary son having a short life,his age will be only 16 years.

4.The couple requested Lord Shiva to get an extraordinary son.After some time, Marudavati gave birth to a baby & named it "Markandeya" (meaning son of Mrikandu). He was extraordinary & God gifted the child & became very intelligent in childhood.

5.He was always dedicated to Lord Shiva & the master of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. When he completed his 16th year, Yama (God of death) came to earth to take them. At that time Markandey was worshiping Shiva Linga in the temple.

6.When Yama asked him to go with him, he told Yama to wait until he finishes his daily pooja to Lord Shiva. Irrespective of his pleading for time, Yama threw his rope on the boy & just after sometime Lord Shiva appeared by bursting the Shiva Linga.

7. Lord Shiva was very angry with Yama’s rude behavior. Yama became afraid from Lord Shiva and begged for mercy. Lord Shiva cooled himself and saved the life of Markandey and blessed him with everlasting life as well as stated that he will always be of sixteen year old.

8.On that day, Lord Shiva had declared that His devotees will forever be secure from the rope of Yama.Flaming appearance of the Lord Shiva (which was appeared to save Markandey) is called the "Kalasamhara Murti or Kaalantaka".

9.Maharishi Markandeya recited this shloka which was added in Rig Veda by Maharishi Veda Vyasa. This is the famous Mahamrityunjaya shloka

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्!!

Pics credit_goes to temple visitors!!